Alberta

Alberta by Tania Cox, illustrated by Janine Dawson (Working Title Press)

RRP PB $14.99

ISBN 9781921504037

Reviewed by Vicki Thornton

Who can’t help but love Alberta? Nothing she does is small. From snowballs to fish, everything is big, especially her personality. So when her parents tell her that she soon will be a big sister, she is very excited. She waits, impatiently…. only to be quite disappointed when the eggs arrive. They are not big…they are not even large…. they are… little.

When Alberta is left in charge of the eggs, she soon discovers that being a BIG sister is a very important job. ‘Yipppeeeeeee!’ she cheers knowing the eggs are safe after tricking a hungry egg thief.  

When the eggs do hatch, Alberta can’t help but notice that the babies are rather, well, little.

So very, very little that Alberta suddenly felt like a very, very BIG sister!

Her heart skipped two tiny beats.

Then Alberta opened her flippers wide…

and hugged her little sisters...in a very Alberta way.

With delicate and soft pen and ink and watercolour illustrations this lovely story is a great way for parents to introduce a child into the idea of having a baby brother or sister.

Love You, Mum

Love You, Mum illustrated by Karen Hull (Lothian/Hachette)
HB RRP $9.99
ISBN: 9780734414441
Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

With Mother's Day just around the corner, Hachette has released this stunning in-house picture book in perfect gift size. Karen Hull's Australiana
illustrations were inspired by the wildlife of Featherdale Wildlife Park and complement the simple text of the daily routine of mothers and offspring in the bush. Double page spreads of each pair and large lettering give maximum effect.

The beautiful cover depiction of a mother penguin with an arm around her chick is typical of what lies between the covers. Delicate bilbies nose to nose; deep pink galahs and rainbow lorikeets tending their spiky-feathered infants; Mother Koala piggy-backing baby koala; dingos howling and bats hanging are just some of the delights in store.

Love You, Mum is not just a tender example of the love between mother and offspring and the offspring's appreciation. There is a strong educational factor in the accuracy of Karen Hull's illustrations. This is a special Mother's Day offering which both mother and child will enjoy. 

Just a Dog

Just a Dog by Michael Gerard Bauer (Omnibus for Scholastic Australia)

PB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9781862918870

Reviewed by Dawn Meredith

Mr Mosely isn’t a pedigreed dog. he’s a bitzer, taken in by Corey’s family who soon becomes a very important part of their lives, even for Dad, who struggles to communicate sometimes. Mr Mosely is part Dalmatian and part family therapist.

As Corey writes about Mr Mosely’s exploits in his diary we get the to know the joys and challenges of family life, the ebb and flow of family relationships, discord, unity, sadness and loss, joy and fun. In a series of ‘stories’ about Mr Mosely, Corey relates how the dog has affected the family dynamics for the better, how he somehow manages to keep them all together. But, as with all pets, we outlive them, and when Mr Mosely’s time comes you somehow hope that things will be different.

Bauer writes with warmth, humour and an authentic child’s voice that made this story a pleasure to read. I did shed a few tears too! Its obvious Bauer is an animal lover and keen observer of how our furry family members operate – they just want to be loved and for everyone in their pack to be happy. And when they are lying in the backyard, buried under a tree, their stories live on.

Dawn Meredith writes from the Blue Mountains and is a May Gibbs Fellow 2011. You can follow her exploits at www.dawnmeredithauthor.blogspot.com

My Aussie Dad

My Aussie Dad by Yvonne Morrison, illustrated by Gus Gordon (Scholastic Australia)
HB RRP $15.99
ISBN 978 1 7416 9 228 0
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton
http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.com/

My Aussie Dad is a humorous rhyming picture book for young children with a feel good ending that will delight all.. On each double spread we meet a different dad doing the Aussie thing. There is the dad burning the chops at the barbie, the DYI dad and the beach cricket dad. Most of the dads are casual, laconic blokes but there is also a dad in a business suit and the stressed out camper. Australia's multicultural society is not ignored. Non-Anglo dads are also depicted in Gus Gordon's wonderful pencil and watercolour illustrations that extend the text with irony and humour.

Endpapers with illustrations of dads and their essential equipment such as sauce, thongs and a footy add to the enjoyment of the book. There is also a framed space saved at the front endpaper for a picture of the book owner's dad. My Aussie Dad represents exceptional value and is ideal to be shared by fathers with their children.